Blackburn Interview - Part One

1. Blackburn have got one point from their last 4 games, losing three in a row. What can be the reason behind your poor league form?

Without trying to make excuses I`d say the main thing has been luck, or lack of it! We should never have lost against Bolton (poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping denied us here.) As for West Ham we didn`t play well in the first half but had a goal disallowed at a time when we were on top that could have gone either way. Against Villa we were poor but if we could have got through until half time at 0-0 instead of having a dodgy penalty called against us who knows what might have happened...

Also we`ve played A LOT of games the past few months and like many other teams have been hit with unforeseen injuries to key players and realistically we don`t possess the squad that United and others do to combat this.

2. United crashed out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Is it an advantage or disadvantage for Rovers as they look to turn their fortunes around in the league?

I would like to say it`s an advantage to Rovers but if I`m honest it`s anything but! It was a game Sir Alex wanted to win by the team he put out so although not all of the players will play on Saturday he will want the team to bounce back from the humiliation of defeat to a lower league team. United don`t lose many games anytime let alone two in a row so they`ll be REALLY up for this game.

3. How should Rovers stop United, do you reckon the home team should take the game to us, or you'd rather try to contain and counter the Reds?

We have to take the game to United! I`m not saying all out attack but as the home side we should be looking to take the game to you and not visa versa. Trying to contain a team like United and catch them on the break isn`t going to happen. If we show you too much respect you`ll take advantage of it all day long.

4. What's your take on Rovers' tag of being a brutal, hard, bullying team?

Rock on you play to your strengths! Only joking, seriously though I hate this tag we are more than just that. Maybe in years gone by that tag summed us up but not now. We are not afraid to put in a tackle or ruffle a few feathers but we also play some superb football (as you rightly pointed out yourself in your interview, so thanks!)

5. Mark Hughes is a United legend, no doubt but what's your opinion of his managerial skills? Are you satisfied with the job he's doing at Rovers?

Magic couldn`t ask for much more! He`s got us playing some great football and got us moving in the RIGHT direction (despite our current league position!) when we were going totally the other way before his arrival. He`s got all the makings of a great manager after all he learned from one of the very best didn`t he...

6. How would you feel if he got the chance to manage United? How would he feel, what do you think?

If he got the chance to manage United you could understand why he would take it and I for one wouldn`t hold it against him... but hopefully this is sometime along way down the line yet. He is still a young manager but he is learning all the time. He`s an inspirational figure for us here and seems to get the best out of people so he would do a FANTASTIC job at Old Trafford... one day WAY, WAY in the future hopefully!

7. If you could have any of our players, who would you choose?

Who WOULDN`T I choose more like! You would expect me to say Rooney but I won`t. Ronaldo (despite what happened in the summer!) is a player that I really like and he is now really starting to find that end product to all that showboating. I also really like Nemanja Vidic who is really showing quality now after struggling at first.

For me despite both getting towards the veteran stage (if not already there!) I would take Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes for their creative influence, with Scholes just shading it as we need that creative influence in the middle of the park that he has.

8. Who is Blackburn's most prized asset, the player you would never want to lose?

We`ve REALLY missed Ryan Nelsen so I can`t wait for him to come back, I`d always want to keep him. Although he`s only been here a few months he`s making an impact so I wouldn`t want Benni McCarthy to do a Craig Bellamy and bugger off after one season but for me it has to be Tugay! I ALWAYS go on about him and how great he is but I really do fear for the day when he is no longer around as he more often than not orchestrates things from midfield. It is widely regarded around Ewood Park that when Tugay plays well so do Rovers!

9. Rovers have beaten United home and away last season so you must be confident. What is your match prediction? Don't forget, no sequences last forever!

United have got early goals against Bolton and Portsmouth and gone on to beat them 4-0 and 3-0 respectively so I fear a HEAVY beating if we concede early... If we play our football like we can without giving you too much respect or fearing you then who knows what might happen. We will concede of that I have no doubt but so long as this isn`t the first goal, and an early one at that I can see us getting a point, so I`ll settle for that. I`m going to say an entertaining 2-2 draw.

I hope you enjoy reading it - I certainly do, as his answers seem totally honest. And I don't say this just because he praised United so much!

James Watson, Vital Blackburn's co-editor also gave his view on all these matters - part two soon to follow.

By the way, if you'd like to read my answers to Hughes Da Man's questions, click here

Use your social login to comment on front page articles. Login using you Facebook, Twitter, Google or LinkedIn accounts and have your say!

Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.